McConnell called obstructionist by critics in Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, a key negotiator in fiscal cliff talks, has come under attack from groups back home who brand him as an obstructionist whose strategy has benefited many of his campaign donors.

A McConnell spokesman says the criticism comes days after the Senate minority leader from Kentucky helped broker a deal that averted across-the-board tax increases and spending cuts.

Kentucky labor leader Bill Londrigan says McConnell helped push the economy to the brink of the fiscal cliff before finally negotiating the deal. Londrigan was among McConnell detractors who on Thursday criticized the surge in filibusters since Republicans lost power in the Senate. Those critics pointed to a nonpartisan group's report that says corporate interests benefited from McConnell's strategy of blocking legislation.

McConnell spokesman Robert Steurer calls the report a "shameless hack-job."

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